Free vaccination boosters and other community notes

Clay County Public Health Center is offering flu shots, for which there is a charge, and free Tdap booster vaccinations.

Free immunizations will be offered for youth over 11 years old and adults until the remaining 450 doses are gone.

Tdap protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis.

“Adults can have pertussis and may not know it, so they could unwittingly give that to children, especially infants who are not protected,” said Jodee Fredrick, director of the Division of Administration at the Health Center.

Flu vaccine is available for all ages. The cost for the shot is $25. Children who are uninsured or underinsured pay $15. There is no charge for children who qualify under the Vaccine for Children Program. Medicaid and Medicare Part B will be accepted in lieu of payment.

Walk-in immunizations are given 8:30 to 11 a.m. weekdays at the Health Center, 800 Haines, Liberty. Afternoon and evening immunizations are available by appointment.

to schedule an appointment. Go to www.clayhealth.com for patient forms and vaccine information.

‘Strange Brew’ concert

North Star Community Band will present the concert “Strange Brew,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Oak Park High School, 825 N.E. 79th Terrace, Kansas City, North.

“We named it ‘Strange Brew’ because there is just a big, huge mix of music. It’s a strange combination, but yet I think it’s going to be a really good program,” said director Faye Rader.

The 55-member band will open with a William Himes arrangement of the Star Spangled Banner, followed by selections from Harry Potter, Danse Macabre, Leroy Anderson Portrait , Jupiter, Sousa’s Liberty Bell March and others.

Gladstone Community Center members are invited to sign up for the “Maintain, Don’t Gain!” weight management program.

The program runs Oct. 22-Nov. 26. The cost is $10. Each participant will receive a pedometer to record physical activity. Presentations are planned on fitness and nutrition. Weekly emails will share weight management tips, strategies, recipes and stress management tools.

“The whole point of it is to help people through the holiday season without gaining those holiday pounds,” said community center office manager Kim Lounsbery.

Applications for the Liberty Community Christmas Tree program will be accepted through Nov. 15.

The program provides food and gifts for needy families and individuals during the holiday season. Last year 276 families with 699 children were served, as well as 135 other households.

Anyone living within the Liberty School District boundaries is eligible for assistance. School-aged children must be enrolled in the district. Home-schooled children must be registered in an official Liberty Public Schools extra-curricular activity.

The program is made possible through donations of food and money.

More than $30,000 was donated last year for the program. Hundreds of volunteers gave nearly 1,000 hours to sort non-perishable goods, shop for gifts and make deliveries.

for information or to volunteer as a shopper, sorter or to make deliveries.

KC Symphony student pass

The Kansas City Symphony is offering $25 student season passes for its 2013-14 Classical Series concerts.

“We believe that every young person should have access to great music and we are committed to helping to make that a reality. With this new pass, we are excited to welcome even more students to the Symphony,” said executive director Frank Byrne.

Students 25 or younger with valid, school-issued student ID may purchase the pass by calling the Symphony Box office at

The Northland Animal Welfare society is promoting National Feral Cat Day with a free winter shelter kit for all feral cats brought in for $25 spaying/neutering and rabies shots at the NAWS Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic on Oct. 16.

The winter shelter kit includes a Styrofoam cooler, straw and instructions for making a durable shelter for feral and free-roaming cats. Bridging the Gap is providing the coolers for the project, according to NAWS president Goldie Arnold.

“Cats reproduce seven times more than dogs do. It’s just another way that we can help with the cat overpopulation in the Northland by providing an opportunity for the feral cat managers to bring their cats in to be altered and at the same time getting some help for the winter.” said Arnold.

About 500 feral cats have been neutered or spayed since NAWS opened its spay and neuter clinic 15 months ago, she said.

NAWS has a Trap Neuter Return task force and welcomes volunteers who want to help.

The NAWS Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic is at 3400 N.W. Vivion Road, Riverside. For more information go to

The conference begins Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. with a free workshop by Laminack, a children’s author, on the art of reading aloud in the Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel. On Oct. 19 Laminack will speak on “Bullying Hurts: Teaching Kindness Through Read Alouds and Guided Conversations.”

Other presenters Saturday are: Taylor-Butler of Kansas City, who has written over 60 children’s books; Debra McArthur, director of Park University’s Academic Support Services, and author of “A Voice for Kanzas;” Park University professors Shannon Cuff, Judi Estes and Linda Seybert; and public school teachers Judy Lofflin and Carole Nelson.

Saturday events are by registration only and begin at 7:45 a.m. in the Park Distance learning Conference Center.

“Our keynote speaker is a dynamic and enthusiastic speaker. His love for literacy and enthusiasm is not something you’re going to want to miss. I think there’s going to be a lot of good information and enthusiastic and passionate speakers,” said Kathy Lofflin, director of the Dorothy Harper Watson Literacy Center at Park.

“Texts can be used in negative ways, but we want to use them in powerful ways and use the power of reading and literacy and make a positive difference in the world.”